MoD ‘may pay

Posted 27/10/2010

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) may have to pay up to £300,000 each to three soldiers who were injured in a helicopter crash in August 2007.

John Falconer, Dahrll Duncan and Christopher Hamilton had been travelling in the Puma vehicle near a base in Catterick when the pilot attempted to carry out a manoeuvre that he was not capable of, a court has heard.

The helicopter plunged to the ground, killing three men and causing injuries including a broken back, a dislocated hip and a severe head injury to Mr Falconer, Mr Duncan and Mr Hamilton.

They had to leave their jobs on medical grounds and took legal action against the MoD in a bid to claim personal injury compensation.

After this week’s inquiry ruled that the pilot was at fault, the MoD accepted liability and may now be ordered to pay a collective £1 million to the former personnel.

A spokesperson said: “The MoD will pay compensation when it’s legally obliged to do so.”

This comes after the MoD was forced to pay a six-figure sum in personal injury compensation after a former bomb disposal expert won his case for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Simon Davis, a personal injury specialist at Ashtons Legal, adds:

“Although the MoD has a scheme for those injured on duty (the ‘war pension’), it very often goes nowhere near compensating those who have to give up their service career and who may be severely restricted in what they can do in ‘civvy street’. 

“Anyone injured in these circumstances should seek advice from solicitors experienced in claims against the MoD.”